Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is abnormal growth of placental trophoblasts beyond pregnancy that includes complete and partial hydatidiform moles, invasive moles, choriocarcinoma, and other rare types. GTD is diagnosed based on symptoms like vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, and constitutional symptoms as well as lab tests and imaging. Treatment involves evacuation of the uterus followed by chemotherapy or other treatments depending on the type and severity of GTD. Close monitoring of hCG levels is also important for detecting and managing persistent or metastatic GTD.

2. Gestational Trophoblastic Disease
(GTD) is a spectrum of abnormal
growth and development of the
placental trophoblasts that continue
even beyond the end of pregnancy.

3. GTD includes
- complete & partial H. mole
- invasive mole
- choriocarcinoma
- placental site trophoblastic tumour
- epitheloid trophoblastic tumour

4. Smellie, 1n 1759, defined H. mole as
a conceptus usually devoid of intact
fetus in which all or many of the
chorionic villi show nodular swelling
culminating in cyst formation with
disintegration of blood vessels and
variable proliferation of trophoblasts.

5. Can be complete or partial on the basis
- of gross morphology,
- histopathology
- karyotype.
Incidence-
highest in Philippines 1in 80
Lowest in USA 1 in 2000
In India 1 in 400

6. -maternal age <15 & > 40 years
- prior molar pregnancy(recurrence
1-4%)
-low dietary intake of carotene
-vitamin A deficiency
-ethnic variation( more in Asian)

7. Sporadic
Genetic
Sporadic CHM are usually androgenic
PHM are genetically biparental with
triploid karyotype and arise due to
fertilisation of normal egg by two
sperms.

8. Figure 37.2

9. Fig 37.4

10. Familial CHM is diagnosed by the
presence of more than 1 woman in a
single family with >2 CHM and is
inherited as autosomal recessive
disorder.
NALP7 is the causative single gene
defect identified in HM.

11. COMPLETE MOLE
1) Fetal or embryonic tissue
absent.
2)Hydatidiform swelling of
chorionic villi diffuse.
3)Trophoblastic hyperplasia is
diffuse.
4) Scalloping of chorionic villi
absent
5)Trophoblastic stromal
inclusions absent.
6)Karyotype 46,XX(90%),
46XY
7)Theca lutein cysts common
8)HCG levels are
high(>50,000)
9)Risk of persistent GTN 20%
PARTIAL MOLE
1)Present
2) Focal
3)Focal
4) Present
5) Present
6) Triploid
7)Uncommon
8)(<50,000)
9)<5%

14. 1) VAGINAL BLEEDING
- Most common symptom
- Occur in 84% of patients
- Apperance of “white currant in red currant
juice”
2) ABDOMINAL PAIN
3)CONSTITUTIONAL SYMPTOMS
-hyperemesis (15%)
-Breathlessness(2%)
-thyrotoxic features of tremors & tachycardia(2%)
4)expulsion of grape like vesicles
5)H/O quickening is absent

15.  Features suggestive of early pregnancy
 Features of preeclampsia are present in 50%
 P/A
 size of uterus > POG in 70%
 = POG on 20%
 < in 10%
 feel of uterus is doughy
 Fetal parts not felt
 Absence of FHS
 Vaginal examination-
-internal ballotment absent
-theca lutein cysts palpable
-vesicles in vaginal discharge
-if cervical os is open instead of membranes
blood clots and vesicles may be felt

16. COMPLETE MOLE- After molar
evacuation , local uterine invasion
occurs in 15% of patients and
metastasis in 4% and 80% cases
enter complete remission.
@Partial H. Mole- persistent tumour
usually non metastatic develop in
2-4% of patients.

17. Complete Mole Invasive mole
Partial Mole
Choriocarcinoma
Normal pregnancy Placental site
& trophoblastic
tumour
Non-molar abortion

18. Full blood count, ABORH
Hepatic, renal and TFTs
USG(snow storm appearance)
Quantitative estimation of chorionic
gonadotrophin(urine and serum)
X Ray abdomen & chest

20. Ploidy analysis, flow cytometry or
digital image analysis can
differentiate b/w diploid and triploid
lesions.
Use of p57 immunostaining to make
a definitive diagnosis of androgenic
CHM as apposed to hydropic abortion
or PHM.

22. Threatned abortion
Fibroid or ovarion tumour with
pregnancy
Multiple pregnancy
Acute hydramnios

23. Haemorrhage and shock
Sepsis
Perforation of uterus
Pre-eclampsia
Acute pulmonary insufficiency
Coagulation failure
Choriocarcinoma

24. Principles of management are
1)Supportive therapy to restore blood
loss and to prevent infection
2)To evacuate the uterus as soon as
diagnosis is made
3)Follow up for early detection of
persistent trophoblastic disease.

25. Patients can be grouped as
1)Mole in process of expulsion’
2) Uterus is inert

26. Start I.V infusion and arrange blood.
Suction should be done
A negative pressure of 200-250mm
is applied
Suction cannula of 12mm size is
usually sufficient
Anticipating the risk of haemorrhage
oxytocin infusion may be added.

27. Evacuate the uterus as soon as
diagnosis is made
If the cervix is favourable suction
evacuation is done and oxytocin
started after evacuation is complete.
If the cervix is unfavourable slow
dilatation can be done by introducing
laminaria tent or vaginal PGE1 3 hrs
before the procedure.

28. HYSTERECTOMY-
- in perforating H. mole
- ovaries may be preserved even in
presence of theca lutein cysts.
- patients still require follow up with
HCG levels as the hysterectomy
does not prevent metastasis.

29. PROPHYLACTIC CHEMOTHERAPY-
It not only prevents metastasis but
reduces the incidence and morbidity
of local uterine invasion
Three cycles of MTX and folinic acid
should be given at interval of 14
days.

30. High risk factors are –(for malignant change)
 Serum β-HCG levels > 100,000 IU/ml
 Bilateral theca lutein cysts > 6 cms
 Maternal age > 40 years
 Patients having 3 or more births irrespective of age
 Uterine size >20 weeks
 Previous history of molar pregnancy
 associated pre-eclampsia , coagulopathy ,
trophoblastic embolisation and /or hyperthyroidism
 h CG levels fail to become normal by 7-9 weeks or
there is re- elevation
 Histologically diagnosed as infilterative mole
 e/o metastasis irrespective of level of h CG
 Women unreliable for follow up.

31. - enquire about irregular vaginal bleeding,cough
breathlessness or haemoptysis.
- abdomino-vagimal examination is done to note
the involution of uterus,ovarian size,malignant
deposit in anterior vaginal wall
- Patients should be monitored weekly with
hCG levels until these levels are normal for 3
consecutive weeks followed by monthly
determination until levels are normal for 6
consecutive months.
- CHEST Xray should be done before treatment ,
4 weeks after evacuation, and then at 3rd
, 6th
and 12th
month

32.  Avoid pregnancy during first 6 months
of normalisation of HCG levels
 IUCD should not be inserted until
patient achieves a normal h CG level
due to risk of uterine perforation and
irregular bleeding.
Barrier method and surgical
sterilisation are other options
OCP s should not be used until
normalisation of HCG levels

33.  Invasive mole(15%)
Choriocarcinoma
Placental site trophoblastic
tumour(1%)
Epithelioid trophoblastic tumour

34.  Non metastatic ( confined to uterus)
 Metastatic
LOW RISK
-< 4 months duration
-initial serum HCG levels < 40,000miu/ml
-metastasis limited to lungs and vagina
-no prior chemotherapy
-no preceding term delivery
HIGH RISK
-duration > 4 months
-serum HCG levels > 40, 000
-brain or liver metastasis
-failure of prior chemotherapy
-Following term pregnancy
-WHO score>7

35. Evidenced by persistence of
trophoblastic activity following
evacuation of molar pregnancy.
Patient presents with
- irregular vaginal bleeding
- subinvolution of the uterus
- persistence of theca lutein cyst
- level of HCG either plateaus or
reelevates after initial fall.
* Postmolar GTN can be invasive mole or
choriocarcinoma but after non molar
pregnancy is always choriocarcinoma.

36. Criteria for diagnosis of GTN or post
molar GTD-
1) plateau of serum HCG level for 4
measurements during a period of 3
weeks or longer
2)rise of serum HCG >10%during
three consecutive measurements or
longer during a period of 2 weeks
3)Serum HCG levels detectable for 6
months or more
4)histological e/o choriocarcinoma

37. It comprises 15% of all GTN.
It is CHM or PHM that invades the
myometrium.
Prominent features are invasive and
destructive.
Shows abnormal penetration through the
muscle layers of the uterus.
Uterine wall may be perforated at multiple
sites showing purple fungating growth.
Neoplasm may invade the pelvic blood
vessels and metastasises to vagina or
distant sites

38. DIAGNOSIS-
-on laparotomy there is perforation of
the uterus through which purple
fungating growth is visible.
- Hemoperitoneum
- On histology there is penetration of the
uterine wall by the hyperplastic
trophoblastic cells which retain villous
structure.There is no evidence of
muscle necrosis.
- Persistent high levels of urinary and
serum HCG .

39. Tumour arises from the trophoblasts of the placental
bed.
Incidence is 1% of all patients with GTN.
15-20 % of these patients develop metastasis.
Most commonly follows a normal pregnancy
Syncytiotrophoblasts are absent and intermediate
trophoblast cells are predominant.
Usual presentation is irregular vaginal bleeding.
Spreads locally through uterine wall and to pelvic
lymph nodes as well as lungs, brain and elsewhere.
 HCG levels are low but hPL is secreted.
Not responsive to chemotherapy
Hysterctomy is the preferred treatment.

40. Arising from intermediate
trophoblasts.
Managed in the same way as PSTT.

41. INCIDENCE
- occurs in 4% of patients after
evacuation of complete mole
- Seen more often when GTT develops
after non molar pregnancy. Incidence
following non molar pregnancy is 1 in
50,000.

42. Naked eye appearanc
- leison is usually localised nodular type.
-Red, haemorrhagic and necrotic
 Microscopic appearance
- anaplastic sheets of trophoblastic cells
invading the uterine musculature
-e/o necrosis and haemorrhage
-villus pattern is completely absent
Bilateral lutein cysts are present in 30%
cases.

43. There is history of molar pregnancy,
term pregnancy, abortion or ectopic
pregnancy
Patient presents with persistent ill
health, irregular vaginal bleeding,
amenorrhea.

44. 1) Pulmonary (80%)
2) Vagina(30%)
3) Pelvis(20%)
4) Liver(10%)
5) Brain(10%)

45. Patients present with chest pain, cough,
hemoptysis, dyspnea
On CXR lungs involvement is visible in 80%
of patients.
On CXR
1) snowstorm pattern or cannon ball
appearance.
2) discrete rounded bodies
3) pleural effusion
4) an embolic pattern caused by pulmonary
arterial occlusion

46. These leisons are highly vascular and
bleed vigorously.
Metastasis to vagina can occur in
fornices or suburethral and may
produce irregular bleeding and
purulent discharge.

47. Hepatic metastasis (10%)
- epigastric or right upper quadrant pain.
- can be complicated by hepatic rupture and
intraperitoneal bleeding.
- presents with epigastric pain and jaundice
Central nervous system(10%)
- patient may develop acute focal neurologic
deficits and presents with headache,
convulsion, paralysis and coma.

48. Patient looks ill.
On bimanual examination
- there is subinvolution of uterus
-purplish red nodule in lower third of
vagina
-unilateral or bilateral enlarged
ovaries.

49. All patients should undergo
- complete history & physical examination
- measurements of serum HCG levels.
- hepatic, thyroid and renal function tests.
- baseline peripheral WBC and platelets.
-diagnostic uterine curettage
Metastatic work up should include
-chest radiograph and CT scan.
- USG and CT scan of abdomen & pelvis
- CT and MRI of head.
- pelvic doppler USG

50. On doppler study low PI of uterine
arteries is an adverse prognostic
factor.
All patients with lung metastasis
should have lumber puncture and
measurement of CSF HCG.
A CSF : serum h CG ratio> 1:60 is
highly suggestive of presence of CNS
metastasis.

51. Β-hCG
 Produced by
syncytiotrophoblasts
 Present through. out
the normal
pregnancy
 in all forms of GTD
 Method of action is
endocrine
 Maintains progesterone
production
hCG-H
 Invasive
cytotrophoblasts
 Present in implantation
phasesof normal
pregnancy
 GTN
 Paracrine
 Promotes trophoblastic
growth and invasion

52. False negative results can occur if all forms
of β-hCG are not detected.
False positive results can occur due to cross
reactivity with heterophile antibodies
Persistent low level elevation of
β-hCG without clinical or radiological
evidence of active GTD in
-Quiescent GTN
-Pituitary derived hCG
-Non –gestational neoplasia
-physiological elevation

55. It predicts the potential for resistance to
chemotherapy.
Score 0-6 is low risk
>7 is high risk
 With in high risk group adverse prognostic
factors
1)Longer duration from antecedant pregnancy
2)Liver metastasis
3)Combined liver & brain metastasis

57. Chemotherapy
Surgery
Radiation

58. Blood counts, liver fn tests, kidney fn tests daily
X- ray chest repeat only if hCG titres plateaus
or rises.
Serum hCG weekly
Treatment should not be repeated if
- WBC < 3000 cu mm
- polymorphonuclear leucocytes <1500 cu mm
- platelet count < 1 lakh /cu mm
- Significant elevation of BUN , SGPT
 Continue treatment at 1-3 weekly interval until
3 consecutive negative weekly hCG titres.
Continued for consolidation phase of 6-8 weeks
after normalisation of h CG levels.

59. 1) histological e/o of choriocarcinoma
2) E/O metastasis in brain, liver,git or radiological
opacity > 2cm on CXR.
3) Pulmonary, vaginal or vulval metastasis unless
h CG levels are falling
4) Heavy vaginal bleeding with E/O git or
intraperitoneal perforation.
5) Rising hCG after evacuation.
6) Serum hCG >20,000 more than 4 weeks after
evacuation.
7) Elevated hCG 6 months after evacuation even
if falling..

60. Single agent chemotherapy with
either Actinomycin D or MTX has
achieved excellent remission in non
metastatic and low risk metastatic
GTN.
MTX can be given along with folinic
acid to reduce the toxicity.

61.  Methotrexate ,which is chemically 4-amino-n10
-methyl-
pteroylglutamic acid ,is a folate antagonist .
 It causes irreversible inhibition of enzyme DHF reductase and
blocks the conversion of DHF to THF ,required for denovo
purine synthesis(hence DNA synthesis).
 It kills the neoplastic cells during S-phase of cell cycle.

62. If the response to first treatment is
adequate dose is unaltered.
If the respone is inadequate dose is
increased from 1.0mg/kg per day to
1.5mg/kg per day for each of the 4
treatment days.
If the response to 3 consecutive
courses of MTX-FA is inadequate
patient is resistant to MTX and
Actinomycin is substituted.

63. If the hCG levels do not decline by 1
log after treatment with Actinomycin,
must be treated with combination
chemotherapy.

64. methotrexate 1-1.5mg/kg
(50mg)
1M/1V Day 1,3,5,7
Folinic acid 0.1-0.15mg/kg IM 2,4,6,8
Side effects Stomatitis, conjunctivitis Abdominal and
chest pain

65. methotrexate 1-1-5mg/kg IM/IV 1,3,5,7
Folinic acid 0.1-O.15mg/kg I/M 2,4,6,8
Actinomycin D 12ug/kg IV Days 1-5
Cyclophosphami
de
3 mg/kg IV Day 1-5

66. 1) Triple therapy
2) EMA-CO
3) EMA EP
4) paclitaxel+cisplatin alternating
with paclitaxel+etoposide

67. DRUG DOSE
DAY 1 ETOPOSIDE 100mg/m2 in 200 ml
saline infused over 30
min
ACTINOMYCIN D 0.5 mg IV bolus
METHOTREXATE+FOL
INIC ACID
100mg/m2 bolus
followed by
200mg/m2 IV
infusion over 12 hrs.
DAY 2 ETOPOSIDE 100mg/m2 in 200 ml
saline infused over 30
min
Actinomycin D 0.5 mg IV bolus
FOLINIC ACID 15 mg IM every 12
hrs for 4 doses
starting 24 hrs after
methotrexate
DAY 8 CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE 600 mg /m2 IV

68. Myelosuppression
Nausea,vomiting
Mucositis
Alopecia
Neuropathy
Second malignancy AML, breast and
colon cancer.

69. Triple therapy with MTX ,Act-D, and
cyclophosphamide is inadequate as an
initial treatment in patients with
metastatic and high risk prognostic
score.
EMA-CO includes etoposide, MTX, Act-
D, cyclophosphamide and vincristine.
It is the preferred primary treatment in
patients with metastasis and high risk
prognostic score.

70. If the patient is resistant to EMA-CO
then they should be treated by
substituting etoposide and cisplatin
on day 8(EMA-EP)
Combination therapy should be given
as often as toxicity permits until the
patient achieves 3 consecutive
normal hCG levels.
After normal hCG levels, at least 2
additional courses of chemotherapy
are given to reduce the risk of
relapse.

71. After completing chemotherapy pelvic
USG done and any investigation that
was abnormal at diagnosis.
Residual brain leisons are excised with
stereotactic radiotherapy.
Residual leisons at othervsites are not
resected and follow up done by
h CG levels.
Complete serological response is
necessary not the radiological response

72. Relapsed high risk disease is defined by a rising hCG
after complete serological response to EMA-CO
therapy(having atleast 6 weeks of normal hCG values
post chemotherapy.
Resistant cases are those that have a rising or
plateaued hCG levels while on EMA-CO.
FDG-PET may be used to locate the site of disease.
Treatment is surgical resection+postoperative
chemotherapy
Second line of chemotherapy is EMA/EP :weekly
alternating regimen of EMA and etoposide+cisplatin
Another alternate is Paclitaxel+Cisplatin alternating
with Paclitaxel+ Etoposide

73. HCG conc
YEAR 1 -WEEKS 1-6 AFTER
CHEMOTHERAPY
-2-6 MONTHS
-7-12 MONTHS
-WEEKLY
-2WEEKLY
-2 WEEKLY
YEAR 2 4 WEEKLY
YEAR 3 8 WEEKLY
YEAR 4 3 MONTHLY
YEAR 5 4 MONTHLY
YEAR 6 OR ABOVE 6 MONTHLY

74. Indications of surgery-------
Leisons confined to uterus in women > 35 years
Localised uterine leison resistant to
chemotherapy.
Intractable bleeding or accidental uterine
perforation.
Persistent viable pulmonary metastasis after
intensive chemotherapy
Cerebral metastases resistant to chemotherapy
Surgery- total hysterectomy, lung resection ,
craniotomy.

75. Patients with brain metastasis
require whole brain radiation
therapy(3000cGY ocer 10 days)
In liver metastasis hepatic artey
ligation or embolisation or whole liver
radiation (2000 c GY over 10
days)along with chemotherapy may
be effective.

76. Non metastatic GTN 2-3%
Good prognosis metastatic GTN 3-5%
Poor prognosis disease 21%
Recurrence after 12 months of normal
hCG level <1%
Additional cycles of chemotherapy after
normalisation of hCG levels are 1 in
non metastatic , 2 in good prognosis
metastatic and 3 in poor prognosis
metastatic disease to prevent
recurrence.

77. H. MOLE
Evacuation
Serial HCG levels Resolution(FU)
GTN
Low risk High risk
Single agent combination
serial HCG levels
relapse Resolution, life long FU

78. THANK YOU